Chick box



E* mss-f.; Eixami'n Feb. 21,1939# l. A. sHoEMAKER El- AL l t 2,147,575 'A l' CHICK BOX l Filed June` 8, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l 229. PAPFR RECEPTACLES., @m35 Reference Examiner A Feb. 21, 1939. L A SHOEMAKER E1- AL 2,147,675

i CHICK Box Filed June B, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 21, 1939 umrao STATES PATENT OFFICEl E Miller, Terre Haute, Ind.;

sammler as..

signor to said Shoemaker. Application June 8, 1938; Serial No. 84,052

18 Claims.V

Thisl invention rela-testofboxesfor shipping' or transporting baby chicks, or other live creatures, so that 'ventilation-V and other requirementsare necessary.

Generally stated, the object of the invention is to pro-vde a. novel and improved construction and arrangement wherebyl a. box of this character is stronger, more rigid, and less liable to accidentally open or come apart, than heretofore, while at the same time the construction is such that the box is economical to manufacture, and in a general way more satisfactory in use than boxes heretofore employed for this purpose.

It is also an object to provide certainV details and features of construction tending to increase the general efciency and desirability-of a box-of this particular character.V

To the foregoing and otherV useful endsi the invention consistsinV matters hereinafter set forth and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fie". l is a perspective of a box embodying the principles of the invention, showing one section of the cover open.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on line 21-2 in Fig. 1, on a larger scale, showing the said cover section in closed position.

Fig. 3 is an enlargeddeteil fragmentary perspective view of aportion of seidbox.

Fig. 4 is a similarview ofanother portion oi' said box".

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentor. section.l on line 5--5 in Fig; lo! thevdrawlnge.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the .upper edge 'portion of one side of the box;

Fig'. 7 is a vertical section on line T-1 in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

Fig. 8 is a plan View of the blank from which the body of the box is made. I

Fig; 9` is a similar view of the blank fromwhi the cover sections of the box are made.

Fig. l0 is a side view of a partition for the box.

As thus illustrated, andV reierring to Fig.- 8 of the drawings, the blank, which forms thebody of the box, comprises a rectangular bottom section l, having slots 2l therein, adjacent the transverse fold lines 3- of theblank. The end wail sections 4 have longitudinalvslots l at the middle thereof, andV the. raised top wall sections 6- are separated from the said end wall sections by the. fold lines 1, as showin and eechseetion is preferably provided with a middle notch as shown. The ends of the sections t are Yprovided,with flaps 9, having their inner' edges formed with proieeftions le, ars-shown@ The sidewall sections` l I- are connected with the bottom wall section I by fold lines f2, and the ends of these side wall sections H- are provided with flaps I3, the latter having innerV edge portions I4 for insertion in the slots Ifwhen the blank is folded. The side wall secs' tions "have wide notches |5-in their outer edges, which are uppermost when the blank is in folded condition. It will also be seen that the blank has the slots I6 formed therein at the four corners of the bottom section l, through which slots the pro- 1o jcctionsll extend when the blank is in folded condition. In addition, the sidel wall sections Il have inwardly pressed tabsV i1, for assisting in holding the flaps 9 in proper position, when the blank: is folded, and also have slots i8 for a pur- 15 pose that will hereinafter more fully appear.

The cover construction comprises a blank, as shown in Fig. 9-of the drawings, having upright middle wall sections li, formed at their ends with projections Fand with Ventilating slots. 2i, par- 20 allel with the fold linesv 22 and. The slot 2Q is. preferably` formed to cross the fold line 23 at right anglesA thereto, substantially midway betweenv the outer ends of the sections l! of the cover construction: The topwall sections 25 are 25 hinged atthe told iines22, haveV their ends formed with tabs 26 that can be bent down outside the box, at the sides. thereof, and these sections 25 have end apsll that are bent. up when the two cover sections 25.. are in closed position.

A third blank or section is employed, as shown in Fig. 10, comprising a longitudinal divider wall u, formed at ends with projections 29 to engage the slots l, and at its upper edge with' a wide notch 3i, having vertical end edges 3|, and a 35 middle notch 32, which latter receives the portions cf the cover section. at the ends of the slot 2l, when the structure is assembled.

The blanks are folded and assembled as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings. o Preferably, the cover wall sections 25 are provided with tabs that can be bent down outside of the side wall section il, as shown, to retain these side wall sections against outward displacement at their upper edges. The tabs 26 can be 5 bent down, to ineffect produce notches to receive s. binding wire or cord 3|, as shown in Fig. 5 of theidrawings. thus providing` for a.. tie wire or corckin .a manner that will. not cause the same to out into thenpner edges-of thcbox, as these wires 50 or eordswill rest on. the tabs 26, as shown in the drawings.v In this way, the sections It and -28 servo tovdivide theinteor ofv the box into four rectangular compartments, one.- at each corner The portions l0 are very effective to u of the box.

keep the corner construction of the box in locked condition, so that it cannot get loose, and so that the chicks cannot be injured by getting in between loosened portions. When the cover sections are closed, it will be seen that the notches 8-are immediately above the upper edges of the end portions of the section 28, so that the edges 3I hold the upper edges of the iiap sections 21 quite close to the inner edges of the sections 8, at the middle of the latter, while between these notches 8 and the sides of the box, the upper edges of the sections 21 may spring inwardly enough to insure a locking engagement with the under sides of the sections 6 when the latter are in folded position, as shown in Figs. l and 2 of the drawings. In this way, two fingers may be inserted through the notches 8, one at each side 'of the divider section 28, to pull the middle portion of each flap section 21 outwardly, thereby to release these flaps 21 from under the over-- hanging sections 6, so that the cover section may then be swung upwardly into open position, as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. In this way, only one hand, and one engagement thereof with the section 21, is necessary in opening the covers. The projections I4, which enter the slots 2, when the blanks are folded and assembled, are very effective to hold the corner construction in firm and locked condition.

Obviously, any or all of said walls can be perforated, or provided with holes, to provide circulation for the baby chicks, or other live creatures.

In effect, the portions I0 are cut out of the naps I3, and the portions I4 are cut out of the ends of the walls 4 of the blank, as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

It will be observed that the flap portions 9 which are bent down from the top wall sections 6, and which are provided with the projections I0 that extend outwardly at the corners of the box, serve as interlocking means for holding the projections I4 in the slots 2, so that the corner construction is very strong and effective, as none of the projections are likely to slip or pull out of their respective or allotted slots, when the box is filled and shipped, or even when it is handled roughly.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. In a baby vchick box, or box for similar purposes, a blank comprising a. bottom section provided with foldable end and side wall sections, all interlocked in box form, the bottom section having slots, and the side wall sections having end flaps in the vertical planes of said slots and provided with projections for engaging said slots when the blank is folded, with said end aps inside of said end wall sections, and held flatwise against the inner surface of the latter by the downward insertion of said projections in said slots, said blank having interengaging locking means having portions that extend outside at the four corners of the box, serving to hold said projections in said slots.

2. In a baby chick box, or box for similar purposes, a blank comprising a bottom section provided with foldable end and side wall sections, the end wall sections having foldable flaps along the upper edges thereof, each flap having a fo1d,

3. A structure as specied in claim 2, comprising slots in said bottom wall section, foldable apsv for the ends of the side wall sections, and projections on said last-mentioned aps for engaging said last mentioned slots in the bottom section, cooperating with said first mentioned projections to form a tight and rigid locking construction for each corner of the box.

4. A box that can be opened and closed, made of exiblesheetvmaterial, comprising a blank formed to provide the rectangular body of the box, with a bottom and four upright side walls, and with the exterior of said body exposed when the box .is closed, two opposite side walls having substantially rectangular end flap sections bent at right angles to these two side walls to extend toward each other inside the box and form reinforcing portions of the other two side walls, so that the latter cover the entire outer ilat surface of said reinforcing portions, said blank having sections that form portions of the top wall of the box, at opposite sides of the latter, and means inserted down from the top of the box and then out at the corners of the box for holding said top wall portions in exposed position against upward displacement.

5. A structure as specified in claim 4, said flap sections having interlocking engagement with said holding means and having horizontal upper and lower edges disposed substantially in the planes of the upper and lower edges of said other side walls.

6. A structure as specified in claim 4, comprising provisions in the bottom of the box for holding said flap sections snugly against the inner surface of said other side walls.

7. A structure as specified in claim 4, comprising means for retaining said holding means in interlocking engagement with said other side walls.

8. A structureas specified in claim 4, comprising slots in the bottom of thebox to engage and hold said flaps in position.

9. A structure as specified in claim 4, a portion of said holding means being cut out of corners of said aps.

10. A box of the type described, comprising a box body formed from a single foldable blank with a rectangular bottom and four side walls, two opposite side walls having end aps formed at their lower edges with engaging portions, said bottom wall having slots at the lower edges of the other two side walls, to receive said engaging portions and hold the latter snugly against the inner surface of said last-mentioned side walls, and means including integral flaps extending downward inside the box to retain said last mentioned side walls in upright position.

11. A structure as specified in claim 10, said retaining flaps having interlocking engagement with said other side walls.

12. A structure as specified in claim 10, said retaining flaps having interlocking engagement with said other side walls, and with edges of said flaps.

13. A structure as specified in claim 10, said engaging portions being cut out of the ends of lsaid other walls, and said inside flaps being integral with the ends of 'top wall sections of the blank.

14. A boxv of the type described, comprising a box body formed from a single foldable blank with afrectangular bottom and four side walls, all ,interlocked in box form, two opposite side vwalls having end iiaps formed at their lower aumen edges with engaging portions, said bottom wall having slots to receive said engaging portions, to-

hold the latter snugly against the inner surface of the other two opposite side walls, and means to retain the latter walls in upright position, forming said interlock, said retaining means having engagement with all of said side walls, serving to keep said engaging portions in said slots.

15. A box of the type described, comprising a box body formed from a single foldable blank with a rectangular-.bottom and four side walls, all interlocked in box form, two opposite side walls having end flaps formed at their lower edges with engaging portions, said bottom wall having slots to receive said engaging portions, to hold the latter snugly against the inner surface of the other two opposite side walls, and means to retain the latter walls in upright position, forming said interlock, said retaining means having engagement with al1 of said side walls, and with vertical edges of said flaps, serving to keep said engaging portions in said slots.

16. A carton formed from a blank of flexible material cut and scored to provide a bottom and four side walls hingedly connected to the bottom, one pair of opposite side walls having integral corner flaps at opposite ends thereof lying against the inner surfaces of the other side walls, said corner flaps having downwardly extending projections inserted through slots provided at the juncture of the second named side walls and the bottom, and locking means having portions projecting outward at the corners of the carton, holding said projections in said slots.

17. A structure as specified in claim 16, said projecting portions being integral with top wall sections of said blank. l

18. A structure as specied in claim 16, said projecting portions extending through slots in said flaps in vertical planes at right angles to the vertical planes of said irst mentioned slots.

LOUIS A. SHOEMAKER. ANDREW E. MILLER. 

